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First ever flat towing experience.

Vinman

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I’ve towed cargo and travel trailers for decades but today was my first ever flat towing experience.
Towed the Jeep in Cranbrook BC today and it was still attached when I arrived.
Jeep Wrangler JL First ever flat towing experience. IMG_8310
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azjl#3

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Nice, I am weeks away from first test.

My rear brake turn signal setup bypasses all jeep wiring. I'm using a HF trailer light setup on a bar mounted to the hitch. Pictures later.

RV3 brake setup next.
 
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Vinman

Vinman

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Nice, I am weeks away from first test.

My rear brake turn signal setup bypasses all jeep wiring. I'm using a HF trailer light setup on a bar mounted to the hitch. Pictures later.

RV3 brake setup next.
I just used magnetic trailer lights on the rear bumper. I didn’t want to tap into the Jeeps wiring for the lights.
 

au176

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I’ve towed cargo and travel trailers for decades but today was my first ever flat towing experience.
Towed the Jeep in Cranbrook BC today and it was still attached when I arrived.
Having the toad show up where and when you do is Job #1! ;) Just looking for the right motorhome, and I'll be joining the ranks as well!
 

LukeDagny

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I just used magnetic trailer lights on the rear bumper. I didn’t want to tap into the Jeeps wiring for the lights.
That's what I use. Nice Seneca. I have an XT version.

My wife and I love to flat tow our Jeep to wherever, and then go Jeep wandering, with the dogs, after we've arrived.
 

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TJDave

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Nice! I may be slightly biased, but Jeeps are the best flat towable vehicles period. We are on our fourth since 2006. TJ, JK, Gladiator, and now JLUR. Never a problem with any. Happy exploring wherever you travel!
Jeep Wrangler JL First ever flat towing experience. 20250521_125808
 

au176

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Nice! I may be slightly biased, but Jeeps are the best flat towable vehicles period. We are on our fourth since 2006. TJ, JK, Gladiator, and now JLUR. Never a problem with any. Happy exploring wherever you travel!
20250521_125808.jpg
It's a bias based in reality! Put the transfer case in neutral. Leave the transmission in park. Jeeps have no steering wheel lock. All of this means that you don't have to leave a key in the ignition! No stopping every X hours/XXX miles to run the engine, and shift the transmission through the gears like most other towables. Jeeps are almost as simple to tow as a trailer. Easy-peasy!

When it comes to using the Jeep, they are great for being out in nature and exploring where most vehicles can't go. They are just as capable in crowded tourist areas where parking is at a premium. They are relatively small (especially 2-doors), and the wheels are out at the corners which makes parking them easier. Run the soft top, and you have a convertible!
 

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I just used magnetic trailer lights on the rear bumper. I didn’t want to tap into the Jeeps wiring for the lights.
I didn’t want to tap into my Jeep’s wiring either, but there are several kits that plug right into the Jeep’s wiring without requiring any cutting. The connection points are in the taillight housings, and you just connect some plugs from the wiring kit into the plugs on the Jeep, and then run the included wires up to the front of the Jeep to a connector that you mount under the bumper.

Both Curt and Hopkins make such kits; I used the Hopkins kit on my 2024 Rubicon:

https://www.etrailer.com/Flat-Tow-Wiring-Harness/Hopkins/HM39VR.html
 

azjl#3

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I didn’t want to tap into my Jeep’s wiring either, but there are several kits that plug right into the Jeep’s wiring without requiring any cutting. The connection points are in the taillight housings, and you just connect some plugs from the wiring kit into the plugs on the Jeep, and then run the included wires up to the front of the Jeep to a connector that you mount under the bumper.

Both Curt and Hopkins make such kits; I used the Hopkins kit on my 2024 Rubicon:

https://www.etrailer.com/Flat-Tow-Wiring-Harness/Hopkins/HM39VR.html
My understanding, unless you use the brake tap which does cut a brake wire under dash, for the jeep, anything other than the $1,000 mopar harness will turn jeep lights on when brake controller activates, draining battery
 
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azjl#3

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I just used magnetic trailer lights on the rear bumper. I didn’t want to tap into the Jeeps wiring for the lights.
Jeep Wrangler JL First ever flat towing experience. towed lights


My Rube Goldberg Mark 1, mod 1.

At may garage/"work pad" on my 1/2 mile gravel driveway.

$20 scrap steel 2x3 tube. $12 hitch, $20 welding to hitch, $30 HF towed lights with magnet (seriously strong magnet btw). Leftover reflective tape. Leftover spray paint. Sort of impressed i put tape on correct to get folks to pass left.. 2 days at my leisure.

$80vs 1,000.

Wired a separate 4 wire line from rear to front of jeep and located 6pin on etrailer towed base plate for hookup to RV. Nothing hooks into jeep except brake controller power, and I'm using a NOCO waterproof 5a 110v charger, hooked to an inverter in RV trunk, using 12v.

Yes I know wire not hooked up yet, oddly will not fit oem trailer plug on jeep, HF plugs nop problem. OK, add $12 for 4 hose clamps to make sure the mag lights dont walk away.
 

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Alan_Hepburn

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I'm using the NSA Ready Brute Elite tow bar system on our Wrangler and Gladiator and used the CoolTech LLC harness as a guideline to build my own version: about $10 for 2 4PDT switches (one for each Jeep), about $25 for 50 ft of 4 conductor wire (enough for both Jeeps), and some miscellaneous wire ties and split loom and both Jeeps are now set up for towing.
 

Barnes

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My understanding, unless you use the brake tap which does cut a brake wire under dash, for the jeep, anything other than the $1,000 mopar harness will turn jeep lights on when brake controller activates, draining battery
It doesn’t with the Hopkins unit I installed, which cost less than $100.

I also installed a “charge line” which keeps the Jeep battery charged from the towing vehicle so I never need to worry about running the Jeep’s battery down for any reason.
 

RubiBlueJLU

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I used an e-trailer wiring kit on our 2021 Wrangler. Wires run front to rear and plug in at the tail lights. If you back out the white wire connectors on the tail lights, you won’t “wake up” the Jeep when the brake light are activated. Thousands of miles of towing with never a dead battery.

Jeep Wrangler JL First ever flat towing experience. IMG_1148
 

azjl#3

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I guess the mileage on the rv took a dump pulling 4 low? In reality, it was probably a mess of parts within a minute of being towed.
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